Device for attaching electrical boxes to metal studding

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a device for attaching switch boxes and the like to metal studding, for use on studding of the channel and stressed wire types, which is in the form of a mounting device including a clip portion in which the box is secured and a stud engaging portion that includes a planar flange defining an abutment portion adjacent its projecting end that is adapted to engage against one of two opposite surfaces of the stud, with the flange carrying a pair of spring arms that project outwardly therefrom and diverge outwardly thereof that each include a finger engaging portion at the projecting end thereof and an abutment forming toothed projection at right angles thereto that are spring biased against the other surface of the stud to clamp the stud portion bearing such surfaces between the flange abutment portion and the abutment forming projections. An alternate form of the device is disclosed that is arranged specifically for use on nailable steel studding.

nited States Patent 1 Swanquist DEVICE FOR ATTACHING ELECTRICAL BOXES TOMETAL STUDDING [75] Inventor: Wesley W. Swanquist, Oswego, Ill.

[73] Assignee: All-Steel Equipment Inc., Aurora,

[22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 206,102

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 38,319, May 18,1970, Pat. No. 3,684,230, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.771,408, Oct. 29, 1968, abandoned.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 927,367 7/1909 Marshall ..248/216 1,794,817 3/1931Zitko ..248/71 1,828,064 10/1931 Paine i ..248/D1G. 6

1,910,231 5/1933 Barnett i ,.248/DlG. 6

2,342,965 2/1944 Palmer ..248/DIG. 6

2,459,953 l/l949 Mills ..248/DIG. 6 3,097,821 7/1963 Richards ..248/21612/1937 Germany ..52/714 2/1959 Germany ..248/216 Primary ExaminerMarionParsons, Jr. Att0rney--Mann, Brown, McWilliams & Bradway 5 7 ABSTRACTThe disclosure relates to a device for attaching switch boxes and thelike to metal studding, for use on studding of the channel and stressedwire types, which is in the form of a mounting device including a clipportion in which the box is secured and a stud engaging portion thatincludes a planar flange defining an abutment portion adjacent itsprojecting end that is adapted to engage against one of two oppositesurfaces of the stud, with the flange carrying a pair of spring armsthat project outwardly therefrom and diverge outwardly thereof that eachinclude a finger engaging portion at the projecting end thereof and anabutment forming toothed projection at right angles thereto that arespring biased against the other surface of the stud to clamp the studportion bearing such surfaces between the flange abutment portion andthe abutment forming projections. An alternate form of the device isdisclosed that is arranged specifically for use on nailable steelstudding.

2 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTED W 3,730,466v

"WITH PATENTEB MAY 1 I975 SHEET 5 OF 5 DEVICE FOR ATTACI-IING ELECTRICALBOXES TO METAL STUIDDING Thisapplication is a division of my applicationSer. No. 38,319, filed May 18, 1970 (now US. Pat. No. 3,684,230), whichwas a continuation-in-part of my abandoned application Ser. No. 771,408,filed Oct. 29, 1968.

My invention relates to a device especially arranged to permit thesecurement of switch and outlet boxes and the like to various forms ofmetal studding which are now widely used in commercial and residentialconstruction in connection with dry wall construction.

While quite a number of devices have now been devised to mount switchand outlet boxes and the like on metal studding, there remains asignificant need for a simple one-piece device that can be readilysecured to both the switch and outlet boxes and to the various types ofmetal studding without requiring the use of hand tools or the like.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device forsecurely mounting electrical switch and outlet boxes and the like onmetal studding in a facile manner and without requiring the drilling ofholes or the like or even using hand tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical box mountingdevice that is specifically not only applicable to metal channelstudding, and is arranged to take advantage of the particular shape ofsuch studding in applying and securing the box thereto, but which alsocan be employed to mount boxes on stressed wire studding.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical boxmounting device that is specifically applicable to nailable steelstudding, and is arranged to take advantage of the particular shape ofsuch studding in applying and securing the box thereto.

In accordance with this invention, a device for mounting switch boxes orthe like is provided in the form of a box engaging portion for securingthe box thereto and a stud engaging portion for securing the mountingdevice to the stud. The box engaging portion comprises a clip deviceincluding a planar base and one or more clamping legs into which theside wall of the box is pressed for securing the box to the device withone form of clip device providing the familiar flush mount for outletboxes, and another form of the clip device providing the familiarprojected mount for switch boxes. The mounting device stud engagingportion includes a flange integral with the clip device and defining anabutment portion adjacent its projecting end for engagement with, inconnection with channel studding, the outer surface of one of the studside walls. The flange carries a pair of spring arms that divergediagonally from the flange and define finger grip portions at theirprojecting ends, and a pair of toothed abutment forming projections thatare perpendicular to the respective arms and project toward the plane ofsaid flange. Finger manipulation by the operator of the finger gripportion of the spring arms permits such arms to be deflected so that thespring arm projections may be both maneuvered around the stud side wallinturned flange and placed in engagement with the inside surface of thestud side wall whereupon the resiliency that is built into the springarms clamps the stud side wall between the flange abutment portion andthe spring arm projections to secure the mounting device to the stud.The spring arm projections define several pairs of oppositely actingsharp edges that bite into the stud and oppose movement of samelongitudinally of the stud.

In one form of the invention, the stud engaging portion is arranged toengage both channel studding and stressed wire studding. In another formof the invention the stud engaging portion is arranged for applicationto nailable steel studding.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device for applyingelectrical boxes to metal channel and stressed wire studding whichprovides for firm securement of the box to the stud, yet which permitsready adjustment longitudinally of the stud after being applied theretoby a simple finger manipulation procedure, which meets all UnderwriterLaboratory specifications, and which is economical of manufacture,convenient to use, and adapted for wide application.

Still other objects, uses and advantages will be obvious or becomeapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description andthe application drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate likeparts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a metal channel stud having theinvention applied thereto to mount a switch box on the stud;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view substantially along line 2- 2 of FIG. 1,showing the mounting device in end elevation;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mounting device itself;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the stamping from which the mounting device isformed;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views taken from either side of themounting device, showing the details thereof;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views illustrating the manner in which themounting device of FIGS. I 6 is applied to a metal channel stud (the boxthat is to be mounted on the stud being omitted to facilitateillustration);

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views similar to those of FIGS. 5 and 6, illustratinga modified form of the device in which the stud engaging portion isapplicable to either channel studding or stressed wire studding;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another form of the device having thestud engaging portion of FIGS. 8 and 9 and a box engaging portionarranged for flush mounting of the box;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the embodiment ofFIG. 10 in use to mount an outlet box on a channel stud;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the form of FIGS. 8and 9 employed to mount a switch box on stressed wire studding;

FIG. 14 is a view substantially along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention formounting electrical boxes on nailable steel studding and being arrangedto provide a flush mount;

However, it is to be understood that the specific drawing illustrationsprovided are supplied primarily to comply with the requirements of thePatent Code, and that the invention may have other specific embodimentsthat are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Reference numeral 10 of FIG. 1 generally indicatesone embodiment of the invention applied to metal channel type stud 12for the purpose of securing in place the conventional switch box 14.

As indicated in FIG. 2, the stud 12 is of the type having the familiargenerally channel-shaped configuration comprising a back wall or web 16flanked by side walls 18, the free ends 19 of which are inturned to formopposed inturned flanges 20; the ends 19 are rolled or folded back onthemselves as at 22 to define a bead 24.

The box 14 that is specifically illustrated is intended to berepresentative of those used in commercial and residential construction,and comprises a bottom wall 26 and side walls 28. As is customary withsuch devices, the bottom wall 26 and side walls 28 are formed with aplurality of knock-outs 30 and perforations or holes 32 adapted toreceive screws or nails or other types of fasteners for fixing the boxin place. Two of the opposed side walls 28 include a wing or ear 34 thatis formed with a threaded hole as at 36 to receive the screw forapplying the switch or the like to the box. Boxes such as box 14 houseelectrical equipment and, as is well-known by those working in thisfield, boxes of this type may take a variety of shapes and forms fordifferent purposes, but box 14 is in this instance a switch box.

Device 10 comprises a one-piece element 40 formed out of the stamping 42indicated in FIG. 4 to define a box mounting portion 44 and a studmounting portion 46 that are integrally united to form the one-pieceelement 40 that is best illustrated in the perspective views of FIGS.and 6, and is specifically arranged to mount switch boxes, whichordinarily are to be positioned so that their open side projectsforwardly of the stud so that their covers, which are usually flat, willbe flush with the wallboard employed.

The box mounting portion 44 of device generally comprises a clipdefining structure 48 including a planar generally quadrilateral baseportion 50 provided with one or more clamping legs 52 (two in theembodiment illustrated) extending from edge 54 of base 50 and arced asat 56 to extend over the base 50 toward the edge 58 thereof, where theydefine an open mouth 60 of the clip structure 48.

The clamping legs 52 are resilient in nature, and are shaped and spacedfrom the base portion 50 to resiliently grip a side wall 28 of the box14 when the same is inserted between the base and the legs in the mannerindicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As indicated in FIG. 2, legs 52 arepreferably concavely curved longitudinally thereof to define terminalportions 62 that are spaced from base 50 to readily admit the box sidewall into mouth 60, and wall engaging portions 63 that physically engagethe box wall in clamping relationship thereto. As device 10 is to mountswitch box 14 on stud 12, the base portion 50 and clamping legs 52 arearranged to dispose the open side of the box forwardly or outwardly ofthe channel side wall 18 against which the wallboard will seat (which isthe upper wall 18 in the showing of FIG. 2).

The box mounting portion of legs 52 have formed at eitherside thereof intheir respective portions 63 a downwardly angled barb 64 which barb isdirected inwarclly of mouth and, after insertion of the box side wallwithin or under legs 52, bites into the inner surface 65 of the box sidewall and opposes withdrawal of the box side wall from the clip structure48.

The stud mounting portion 46 of device 10 generally comprises a flangeextending from the box mounting portion base 50 and at right anglesthereto along its edge 58, which is shaped to define at its projectingend 72 a planar abutment portion 74 that is adapted to be placed intoabutting relation with the external surface 73 of one of the channelside walls 18 (see FIG. 2). Abutment portion 74 is preferably perforatedas at 75 to receive a suitable self tapping screw 77 (see FIG. 1) thatmay be flat headed to avoid interference with the wallboard.

The flange 70 also carries on either side thereof a pair of divergingspring arms 76 and 78 that lie in a plane paralleling the plane of thebase 50 and diverge outwardly of the clip structure mouth 60. Asindicated in FIG. 3, the arms 76 and 78 are angled at approximately 45degrees with respect to the plane of flange 70 and thus are diagonallyrelated thereto.

The arms 76 and 78 are each formed to define at their projecting ends 80and 82, respectively, finger engaging portions 84 and 86, respectively,which are intended to be engaged by the operators fingers in the mannersuggested in FIG. 7 in applying the device 10 to a stud.

Arms 76 and 78 each include an abutment forming projection 88 and 90,respectively, with the projections 88 and 90 being respectivelyperpendicularly disposed with respect to the respective arms 76 and 78,and projecting in the direction of the plane of the flange 70. Theprojections 88 and 90 are each formed with a toothed configuration whereindicated at 92 and 94,

respectively, which may involve one or more teeth of the general typeindicated.

The parts of the device 10 are respectively proportioned so that in theunstressed position of the arms 76 and 78, the terminal portions 96 ofthe respective abutment forming projections 88 and 90 lie within orclose ly adjacent to the plane of the flange 70 so that when the device10 is applied to the stud 12 in the manner about to be described, theside wall 18 of the stud that is involved will be clamped between theflange abutment portion 74 and the spring arm projections 88 and 90.

The spring arm projections 83 and 90, in the form shown in FIGS. 1 8 arenotched as indicated at 98 to define a sharp edge shoulder 100 that inthe mounted position of the device 10 bites into the undersurface 102 ofthe channel bead 24. The notch 98 and its shoulder 100 are consideredoptional features, however, and may be omitted, in which case the edge99 of the respective projections 88 and 90 is suitably shaped to avoidengagement with the channel bead 24 when device 10 is applied to thestud.

As is indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the arms 76 and 78 each define planaredge surfaces 104 and 106, respectively, that are in coplanar relationand lie in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the base 90. In themounted position of the device 10, the surfaces 104 and 106 engage theouter surface 108 of the stud bead 24.

As is also indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the device between theprojections 88 and 90 is formed to define notches or openings 110 and 112 in which the side wall 18 of the stud, to which the device 10 isapplied, is disposed as part of the procedure of applying the device 10to the stud.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the device 10 is applied to the stud 12by the installer grasping the device 10 by employing his thumb 113 and afinger 114 (usually the middle finger) of one hand (the right hand inthe showing of FIG. 7) to grip the finger grip portions 84 and 86, andcanting the device 10 with respect to the channel 12 to dispose thefinger gripping portion 86 of arm 78 and the latters projection 90between the stud inturned flanges 20, and the finger gripping portion 84of the arm 76 outside of the stud side wall 18 to which the device 10 isto be applied (the near side wall 18 in the showing of FIGS. 7 and 8),with the device 10 being positioned relative to the stud to bring thesurface 106 of the arm 78 into abutting relation with the inturnedflange outer surface 108.

The installer may then press finger grip portion 84 of arm 76 towardfinger grip portion 86 of arm 78 to swing the finger grip portion 84 andprojection 88 of arm 76 inwardly of the inturned flange 20 (of the wallto which the device is being applied), whereupon the device 10 may beswung downwardly using the engagement between same and the stud 12 atsurface 106 as a fulcrum to dispose the projection 88 below the level ofbead 24 and bring surface 104 into engagement with the surface 108,whereupon the finger grip portions of the device may be released topermit the natural resiliency of the material from which it is made tobias the projections 88 and 90 against the inner surface 115 of the studside wall 18 and thus clamp the stud side wall in question between theflange abutment portion 74 and the projections 88 and 90 of spring arms76 and 78.

This action also brings the shoulders 100 (where employed) into bitingrelation with the inner surface 102 of the bead 24 of the stud side wallto which the device 10 is applied.

As the abutment forming projections 88 and 90 are angled away from eachother and the flange 70, they tend to bite into the stud side wall andoppose movement of device 10 in either direction longitudinally of thestud. Shoulders 100, which are spaced below the plane of surfaces 104and 106 an amount to insure a biting relation to the bead 24, in havingthe same angulation with respect to the stud side wall that therespective projections 88 and 90 do, likewise oppose movement of thedevice 10 in either direction in a similar manner.

The device 10 may be readily shifted longitudinally of the stud 12 bythe operator merely grasping the finger grip portions 84 and 86 of therespective springs arms 76 and 78 in the manner indicated in FIG. 7 andbiasing them towards each other to release the engagement of theprojections 88 and 90 and their respective shoulders 100 with the studside wall; when the device 10 is positioned as desired to dispose thebox in its predetermined location, the anus 76 and 78 are released tofirmly mount the device 10 in its operative position.

The box 12 is applied to the clip structure 48 of the device 10 byinserting a selected side wall 28 of the box within the clip portionapproximately to the position indicated in FIG. 2. The resilient actionof the clamp legs 52 and their barbs 64 firmly hold the box in place andoppose withdrawal of same from the clip structure 48. The box may beapplied to device 10 either before or after the clip device has beenapplied to the stud.

Minor positioning adjustments longitudinally of the stud, after the boxis applied to the stud, can readily be made by reaching behind the boxto grasp the finger grip portions 84 and 86 in the manner indicated torelease the hold that projections 88 and 90 have on the stud side walland shifting the box and device 10 as a unit to the position desired.Suitable self tapping screw 77 or the like is then applied to the studthrough hole of device 10 to permanently fix device 10 in place on thestud.

In the specific embodiment of FIGS. 1 8, the device 10 is made from 22gauge C-lOSO steel by a suitable stamping operation to form the stamping42 of FIG. 4 and suitable subsequent forming operations to give thedevice 10 the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The materialfrom which the device 10 is formed is suitably heat treated and drawn toa number 44 Rockwell-C. The stamping 42 is conveniently formed from a 2%inch by 3 /2 inch size blank of the material indicated.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the box mountingdevice 10A comprises the box mounting portion 44 of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 8, and a stud mounting portion 46A which is modified insofar asthe projections 88A and A are concerned to eliminate the notches oropenings and 112 of the device 10 and to form the edge surface of eachof the respective projections 88A and 90A to incline in a diagonalmanner away from the plane of the base portion 50, so that the device10A can be applied to conventional stressed wire studding 122 as well asstudding 12 of the channel shaped type shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, which illustrate one specific form ofstressed wire studding 122, it will be seen that studding 122 comprisesspaced pairs 125 of side wires 126 and 128, are disposed in parallelrelation, with the wires 126 of each pair 125 spaced apart (see FIG. 13)to receive between them a reinforcing wire that is formed to definediagonally disposed lengths 132 extending between the respective pairs125 and fixed to same as by welding the rods 126 and 128 to the rod 130at its corners 134. Studding of this type is available in various sizesand that illustrated is intended to be representative of studding ofthis type.

The device 10A is applied to the stressed wire studding 24 in a mannersimilar to that described in connection with the showing of FIGS. 7 and8, with the rods 126 and 128 of a pair of side rods 125 as a group beingpositioned in the sotches or openings 110 and 112 of the stud mountingportion 46A, and with thev teeth 95 and 101 of the respective springarms 76A and 78A received between the two side rods 126 and 128 that areinvolved, as indicated in FIG. 13. The tapered nature of the teeth ofthe respective spring arm projections 88A and 90A, including the taperededges 120 of the respective teeth 95 and 101, effect a centering actionof the teeth 95 and 101 with respect to the rods 126 of the stud siderod pair 125 to which the device 10A is attached.

The device 10A is equally applicable to stud 12 by following theprocedure described in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. In thisconnection, the action of the installer in pressing on the finger gripportions 84 and 86 of device 10A tends to twist the respective springarms 76A and 78A about the longitudinal axes of the respective arms 76Aand 78A. In order to insure that the tips of the teeth 91, 93, 95, 97,99 and 100 are all disposed so that when the device 10 is applied to thestud 12, the tips of all six teeth engage the side wall 18 of the stud,the teeth of the respective projections 88A and 90A project from theplanes of the respective finger grip portions 84 and 86 in successivelygreater amounts, as indicated in FIG. 10. Thus, teeth 95, 93, and 91 ofprojection 88A project in successively increasing amounts from the planeof finger grip portion 84, and the teeth of projection 90A are similarlyarranged.

The box mounting device 1013 generally comprises the stud mountingportion 46A of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 and a modified boxmounting portion 44A which comprises a clip defining structure 48A thatincludes a generally planar quadrilateral base portion 50A provided withone or more clamping legs 52A (two in the form illustrated) extendingfrom the edge 54A of the base 50A and arced as at 56A to extend over thebase 50A toward the edge 58A thereof, where they define an open mouth60A of the clip structure 48A.

As was the case in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 10, the clamping legs 52Aare resilient in nature, and are shaped and spaced from the base portion50A to resiliently grip a side wall of the box to be mounted by themounting device 10B, though in device 108, legs 52A are formed by beingstamped from part of base portion 50A, leaving the respective openings135 in base 50A.

In the case of the mounting device 10B, the box mounting portion isshaped to provide the so-called flush mount that is customarily employedfor outlet boxes 14A (see FIG. 12), as distinguished from the projectionmount for switch box 14, and thus the clamping legs 52A are toresiliently grip a side wall 28A of the outlet box 14A when the latteris inserted between the base 50A and the legs 52 in the manner indicatedin FIG. 12.

In accordance with this invention, the box mounting portion 44A isshaped to define a shoulder 150 and dispose the base 50A and itsclamping arms 52A in overlying relation to the plane of the arms 76A and78A of the stud mounting portion 46A, as distinguished from theembodiments of FIGS. l- 10, wherein the box mounting portion projects tothe other side of the box mounting device. Thus, in the embodiment ofFIG. 11, the box mounting portion 44A extends or projects from the side152 of the stud mounting flange 70, while in the embodiments of FIGS. 110, the box mounting portion extends or projects from the other side 154of the flange 70.

As seen in FIG. 12, the mounting device 10B disposes the outlet box 14A,when the device 108 has been applied to the stud 14 in such a mannerthat when the cover of the box 14A is applied thereto, its outwardlyfacing surface 162 will be more or less flush with the outwardly facingsurface 164 of wallboard 166. The shoulder 150 of the box mountingportion 44A defines an internal shoulder 168 in which the flange 170 ofthe box cover 160 is received, the box cover 160 being secured to thebox 14A by suitable screws in the usual conventional manner.

The box mounting device 10B can also be applied to the stressed wirestudding 122 in the manner indicated in FIGS. 13 and 14 to flush mountbox 14A with respect thereto.

It may be pointed out that clip device 108 may be secured in place byappropriate flat headed screws 77A to permanently fix device 108 inplace. It is also pointed out that in connection with the showing ofFIG. 2, wallboard is conventionally applied across the stud 12 up to thebase 50 of box mounting portion 44 of device 10, with the cover that isapplied to box 14 ordinarily having its outer surface substantially inalignment with the outwardly facing surface of the wallboard (notshown).

In the embodiment 100 of FIGS. 15 and 17, the mounting device is adaptedfor application to nailable steel studding of the type shown in FIG. 17,which generally speaking comprises a pair of channel members 182 and 184secured together in back to back relation with their webs 186 and 188spot welded or otherwise fixed together at spaced points therealong.Between the points of securement together there is thus left between thewebs 186 and 188 a mounting opening or slot 190 (which is overemphasized in the showing of FIG. 17 for clarity) to which screws orrink shank serrated nails are applied to mount things. As isconventional, the channel studding member 182 includes spaced flanges192 and 194 integrally connected with its web 186, while the channelmember 184 includes flanges 196 and 198 integrally connected to its webportion 188.

The box mounting device 10C of FIGS. 15 and 17 comprises the boxmounting portion 44A of the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 and a modifiedstud mounting portion 46B comprising a flange 70A extending from the boxmounting portion base 50A and at right angles thereto. Flange 70Adefines a planar abutment portion 74A and integrally connected to theflange 70A is a driving arm or peg portion 200 that is substantiallyplanar in configuration and that is at right angles to the flange 70A.The side edges 202 and 204 are each formed with a plurality of teeth 206and 208, respectively, which are angled to prevent withdrawal of the armor peg portion 200 when it has been inserted in the slot 190 of thenailable steel studding 180.

In use, the box 14 is applied to the box mounting portion 44A of device10C in the manner described in connection with the embodiment of FIG.11, and the driving arm or peg 200 of the flange 70 is driven into theslot 190 from the side of the nailable steel studding on which the boxis to face. The arm or flange 200 is driven into the slot 220 until theflange 70A abuts against the adjacent stud channel flange 194 or itsequivalent, depending on which side of the nailable steel studding thedevice 10C is applied to.

Flange 70A is formed with a suitable perforation 210 to receive asuitable screw 212 to fix the device 10C in mounted position.

The box mounting device 10D of FIG. 16 employs the box mounting portion44 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 8 instead of the box mounting portion44A, but is otherwise the same as the embodiment of FIGS. and 17, asindicated by corresponding reference numerals, and is employed in likemanner to mount switch boxes on studding 180.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 15 17, the serrations 206 and 208 are shownangled from the same side of the arm 200, but this is for simplificationof manufacturing procedures only as the serrations could be angled fromeither side of the arm 200, or could be alternately angled, as desired.

The box mounting devices 10, 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D thus provide a familyof box mounting devices which permit the mounting of electrical boxes tothree of'the basic types of metal studding commonly employed inconstruction today. The box mounting portion 44 may be employed to mountswitch boxes, which are ordinarily projection mounted, while the boxmounting portion 44A may be employed to mount outlet boxes, which areordinarily flush mounted.

It will therefore be seen that this invention has provided a novel anduseful device for mounting electrical boxes to metal studding whichrequires at the most only the simplest of hand tools, and whichprovides, in combination with the stud and the box, a secure mountingarrangement for the box.

The terms box or electrical box as used herein and in the appendedclaims means switch, outlet and other electrical boxes unless otherwiseindicated.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely toexplainand illustrate the invention and the ill invention is not to belimited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited,since those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them willbe able to make modifications and variations therein without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A mounting arrangement for securing an electrical box or the like tonailable steel studding of the type comprising a pair of channelelements fixed together back to back and defining a slot therebetween,said mounting arrangement comprising in combination with the studding:

a mounting device comprising:

a clip portion defining a base having a clamping leg extending from oneedge thereof and above said base on one side thereof to define the clipportion mouth along the other edge of said base,

said leg and base being formed to frictionally grip the side wall of anelectrical box introduced between same to secure the box to said device,

and a stud engaging portion comprising:

a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially atright angles thereto and extending transversely of said leg,

said flange carrying an arm disposed normally thereof and proportionedto be frictionally driven in the studding slot,

with said flange arm being driven into said slot to dispose said flangeinto abutting relation with a side wall of one of said channel elements.t 2. The mounting arrangement set forth in claim 1 including:

a screw received through said mounting device base and said flange formaking said device flange fast to said studding.

1. A mounting arrangement for securing an electrical box or the like tonailable steel studding of the type comprising a pair of channelelements fixed together back to back and defining a slot therebetween,said mounting arrangement comprising in combination with the studding: amounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a base having aclamping leg extending from one edge thereof and above said base on oneside thereof to define the clip portion mouth along the other edge ofsaid base, said leg and base being formed to frictionally grip the sidewall of an electrical box introduced between same to secure the box tosaid device, and a stud engaging portion comprising: a flange projectingfrom the other side of said base substantially at right angles theretoand extending transversely of said leg, said flange carrying an armdisposed normally thereof and proportioned to be frictionally driven inthe studding slot, with said flange arm being driven into said slot todispose said flange into abutting relation with a side wall of one ofsaid channel elements.
 2. The mounting arrangement set forth in claim 1including: a screw received through said mounting device base and saidflange for making said device flange fast to said studding.